Slider fastener



J. F. SULLIVAN SLIDER FASTENER Jan. 17, 1950 Filed May 4, 1946 m R. a Nis p e w J ATTORNEY Registered Jan. 17, 1950 SLIDER FASTENER Joseph F.Sullivan, New Britain, Conn, assignor to The North & Judd ManufacturingCompany, New Britain, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application May4, 1946, Serial No. 667,460

Claims. 1

This invention relates to slide fasteners and, in particular, to theprovision of new and improved interlocking members, elements or scoopstherefor.

It is an object of this invention to provide new and improved slidefasteners embodying lightweight scoop constructions of superiorstrength,particularly adapted for production by casting or molding in metal ornon-metallic resinous plastic material, hereinafter referred to asplastic material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such slide fastenersand such scoops wherein recesses or apertures are provided in the scoophead portions whereby the weight thereof is reduced, the uniformity ofsectional thickness is substantially increased, and wherein the strengththereof, when produced in plastic material, is considerably improved bythe consequent increase in skin surface per unit of volume, anduniformity of curing throughout.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such scoops whereinthe sockets or recesses in the head portions provide means for handlingthe scoops in electro-plating and other finishing or surfacingoperations whereafter the web inter mediate the opposed recesses, whichwould not be plated if holding devices were in contact therewith duringa plating operation, may be broken out, or otherwise removed or coveredby an ornamental or functional insert in the recess, at one or bothsides; which insert may comprise a rhinestone, a plug or insert ofornamental contrasting plastic, or metal, or a wax composition plug orlubricant impregnated insert. a

It is a further object of this invention to provide such scoops whereinthe webs intermediate the opposed recesses may be removed to provideapertures receiving a staple or other connection between adjacentscoops, particularly at the lower end of a fastened, for connection ofthe fastener stringers, and wherein the recesses are adapted forengagement with the locking means of the slide fastener slider forlocking the slider.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will appearfrom the following description, taken with the drawing forming a partthereof, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, enlarged plan view of a slide fastenerincluding one form of scoop embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view showing a singlefastener member or scoop of the type shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the application ofan ornamental insert to a socket or recess of the scoop shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the scoop shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the scoop shown in Fig. 4.;

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on the plane indicated by theline 66 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a section taken substantially on the plane indicated by theline 'l'! in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the plane indicatedby the lines 8-8 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary isometric view illustratingapplication of the principles of this invention to another illustrativeform of scoop;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary front view illustrating applicationof the principles of this invention to a third illustrative form ofscoop; and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged isometric view of the bottom stop shown in Fig.1, its relationship to the lowermost scoop of the righthand stringerbeing shown in dash lines.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theillustrative fastener shown in Fig. 1 comprises a righthand stringer l2and a complementary lefthand stringer H, each stringer being formed by aflexible stringer tape l 4 having an edge reinforcement or bead at oneedge with a row of interlocking fastener members or scoops i6 securedthereto in known manner, in predeterminedly spaced relation. Thelowermost scoops it are coupled by a bottom end coupling or bottom stopil, in a manner hereinafter described, to connect the lower ends of thestringers.

Slidable on the rows of scoops I6, downwardly toward the bottom stop toopen the fastener, and upwardly away from the bottom stop to close thefastener, is the slider it having a lug l 9 to which the trunnions atthe inner end of the pull tab 2|] are connected in known manner. Theslider body is provided with a conventional upwardly diverging scoopguiding channel (not shown) which is slidably supported by the rows ofscoops I 6 and which guides the scoops l6 progressively into and out ofengagement in a manner well known in the art, when the slider I8 ismoved upwardly and downwardly on the rows of scoops It by the pull tabZll.

The front face of the slider body is provided with a longitudinal recess2| receiving the pull tab in its locking position. An aperture 22 leadsfrom this recess 2i into the scoop-guide channel, providing forengagement of the locking prong or projection 23 on the pull tabtherethrough into locking engagement with scoops [6 in the channel ashereinafter described. The pull tab 28 is shown in unlocked position inFig. 1, the locking position thereof occurring when it is flat againstthe bottom of the recess 2| with the locking projection 23 thereofextending through the aperture 22 into locking engagement with a scoopI6, to prevent movement of the slider with respect to the stringers IIand 12.

Details of the scoops it are shown in Figs. 2 to 8 inclusive, wherein itwill be seen that the innermost or leg portion of each scoop l6comprises a pair of legs 24 engaging the edge reinforcement or bead [5of the stringer.

Extending from this innermost or leg portion 24, 24 is an intermediateor neck portion formed by a vertical web or tongue 25 separating pairsof upwardly and downwardly directed arcuate recesses 28, the innerupright walls of the recesses 26 being defined by the outer side wallsof the Web or tongue 25 and the outer sides of these recesses beingopen. The section of this intermediate or neck portion is substantiallycruciform as shown in Fig. '7.

Extending outwardly from the intermediate or neck portion 25, 28 is ahead portion of substantailly ellipsoidal or ovoid form, the upper andlower end portions 21 thereof being arcuate and substantiallycomplementary with the recesses 25 and each bisected by a groove 28disposed longitudinally with respect to the scoop E8, the grooves 28 andthe webs or tongues 25 being of substantially equal width and the inneror bottom surfaces of the grooves 28 being substantially flush orcontinuous with the outer walls of the tongues or webs 25 as shown.

The above described construction provides a scoop comprising a tapeengaging inner or leg portion, an intermediate or neck portion havingits upper and lower sides defined by pairs of upwardly and downwardly(and laterally) opening arcuate recesses separated by a verticalcoextensive web or tongue, and an outer or head portion of ellipsoidalor ovoid form with its arcuate upper and lower portions each intersectedby a longitudinal groove or channel with its inner surface substantiallycoextensive with the outer (upper or lower) surface of the adjacenttongue or web. The arcuate portions separated by the groove areengageable with the recesses of adjacent scoops (and substantiallycomplementary therewith) while the tongues or Webs of the intermediateor neck portions are engageable with (and substantially complementarywith) the grooves in the head portions of adjacent scoops. Thus isinterlocking connection provided between the scoops l6 of the slidefastener shown in Fig. 1.

The common outer, side or lateral surfaces of the leg portion 24, 24,intermediate or neck portion 25, 26 and outer or head portion 21, 21,28, 28 may be continuous but, preferably, according to this invention,recesses (or apertures, Figs. 1 and 11) are provided therein (ortherethrough) for attainment of various of the objects of thisinvention.

In Figs. 18 inclusive, the recesses provided are designated 29 and theseparating web therebetween, which defines the inner walls thereof, isdesignated 30 (Figs. 6 and 8). These recesses 29 are of the same generaloutline as the longitudinal section of the ellipsoidal head. portion 21,21, 28,

28 but the defining marginal walls 29a thereof converge as they approachthe Web 30 (Figs. 6 and 8). Thus, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, thethickness of the section of the head portion is maintained substantiallyuniform throughout whereby the skin area thereof is substantiallyincreased over similar but unrecessed portions and, since in moldedplastic masses the skin portions are stronger than portions remote fromthe skin, the strength of the head portion is materially increased byprovision of the recesses 29, 30.

As shown in Fig. 7 each leg of the cruciform neck portion is ofsubstantially equal thickness, and as seen by comparison of Figs. 6 and7, of substantially the same thickness as the head portion. From Figs. 2and 3 it will likewise appear that the thickness of the leg section alsois substantially equal thereto. By this relationship, substantiallyuniform curing (and strength) is secured throughout the scoop. Since asubstantial portion of the scoop volume is represented by the recesses29, the weight (and cost) thereof is substantially reduced by theprovision of the recesses.

These recesses 29, may also cooperate with locking means such as thelocking projection or member 23 (Fig. l), aligned therewith, to eflectlooking of the slider in predetermined position in the fastener, theinclined recess Walls 2911 being particularly adapted for engagementwith the projection 23.

The web 30 may be removed by boring, or otherwise, to provide aperturesextending through the scoop heads from side to side (Figs. 1 and 11) foraccommodating connecting staples such as I1 for connecting a pair ofengaged scoops together (Fig. 1). Alternatively, the depth of therecesses 29 may be so increased as to render the web 30 frangible sothat it may be readily punched or broken out for this purpose.

By elimination of the Web 30, which may also be done by increasing thedepth of recesses 29 until they meet, the scoops may be strung on wiresor other carriers for plating or other surface treatment or finishing.

If desired, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8, an ornamental element such as theRhinestone 3| may be bonded or otherwise secured in the recesses 29 atone side of the fastener and/or a lubricating unit or element 32 (Fig.8) secured in one or both sides. This element may, for instance,comprise a plug of lubricating wax composition of high melting point, ora lubricant impregnated porous metal element of composition similar tothat of the well known Oilite self-lubricating bearing manufactured byThe General Motors Corporation.

The bottom stop I1, as shown in Fig. 11, may comprise a substantiallyU-shaped staple of round, rectangular or other section, the legs Ila ofwhich may be inserted through the webless recesses 29 of adjacentengaged scoops (Fig. 1) and the leg end portions I'lb bent over againstthe sides of the scoops l6 as shown in Fig. 11.

In Fig. 9, I have illustrated the application of the principles of thisinvention to a modified form of scoop described and illustrated in U. S.Letters Patent No. 2,392,684, granted January 8, 1946, to Louis H. Morinwherein the shape of the scoop 33 lends itself to the provision of arecess 35 in each side 34 substantially coextensive in area with theside 34. Alternatively, a further recess or bore 3'! may extend inwardlyfrom the inner surface 36, or the recess 35 may be filled with an insert40 of either ornamental or functional charactor as described above.

Application of the principles of this invention to another form of scoopalso is illustrated in Fig. which shows scoops of the type described,illustrated, and claimed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,385,021, grantedSeptember 18, 1945, to Louis H. Morin. As therein shown, the sides ofthe heads of scoops 4| include diamond shaped surfaces 42 in whichrecesses 43 are provided, according to this invention. These recessesare preferably substantially coextensive with the area of the lateralhead surfaces 42 and may extend from opposite sides of the scoop head toany desired extent. If desired, they may be provided with suitableornamental or functional inserts such as 3| or 32 (Fig. 8).

From the above description it will clearly appear that I have provided anew and improved slide fastener construction embodying scoops havingdefinite cooperative relation with respect to locking sliders therefor,which lend themselves to production with particular advantage by diecasting or molding, from metal or non-metallic plastic materials, andwhich may be provided with ornamentation as desired, or withself-lubricating means because of the provision of material savingrecesses as described. It will further appear that, by reason of therecesses provided, the scoops may be readily adapted to permanentconnection when engaged to form a bottom end coupling in a slidefastener embodying them by a simple cheap and readily applied staple orcoupling member with substantial improvement over the appearance in thefastener which would be achieved with conventional bottom stop staples.

It is, of course, to be understood that the above description is merelyillustrative and in no wise limiting and that I desire to comprehendwithin my invention such modifications as are included within the scopeof the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. A light weight scoop for slide fasteners of the class describedincluding complementary stringer tapes with rows of scoops securedthereon and a slider slidable on said rows of scoops and having lockingmeans including a locking projection, said scoop comprising integralleg, neck and head portions, said leg portion having stringer tapeattaching means and said neck and head portions having meansinterlockingly eneluding rows of interlockingly engageable scoops,-

two adjacent scoops on opposite stringers having bores extending betweenthe lateral sides thereof, and a substantially rigid connecting memberextending through said bores and maintaining said scoops in engagement.

3. A scoop for slide fasteners of the class described comprising anintegral scoop body including inner stringer attaching, neck, and headportions, said scoop being symmetrical both laterally and vertically,the head portion of said body being ellipsoidal and having its upper endlower portions each intersected by a longitudinal channel, and said neckportion having at its upper and lower sides longitudinal tongues eachwith its outer surface flush with the adjacent channel and with arcuaterecesses at each side of each tongue, said last named arcuate recessesbeing complementary with said head portions at opposite sides of theintersecting channel whereby the head portions thereof areinterlockingly engageable with neck portions of adjacent scoops.

4. A scoop for slide fasteners of the class described comprising anintegral scoop body including inner, intermediate and outer portions,said scoop being substantially symmetrical both laterally andvertically, the outer portion of said body being substantiallyellipsoidal and having its upper and lower portions each substantiallybisected by a groove disposed longitudinally of the scoop body, and theintermediate portion having an intremediate longitudinal tongue witheach outer surface substantially flush with the inner surface of anadjacent groove and separating a pair of arcuate recesses at the upperand lower sides of said scoop body respectively, said last named arcuaterecesses being complementary with said outer portions at opposite sideof the separating grooves whereby the outer portions of adjacent scoopsare interlockingly engageable with intermediate portions of adjacentscoops.

5. A scoop as defined in claim 4, wherein said slide fastener includes aslider and wherein said outer portions of said scoop have recessesextending inwardly from opposite lateral sides of said scoop, and saidrecess at one side of said scoop cooperating with a slider to formslider locking means while both of said recesses perform 12; weightreducing and strength increasing funclOl'l.

JOSEPH F. SULLIVAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

